High-pressure spray device

ABSTRACT

A high-pressure spray device utilizing a pump delivering through a conduit to a remote spray head which spray head is provided with control means including on and off and controlled spray selections with valving means arranged in the conduit which are controlled by the selective valve controls at the spray head and which valving means include a complete shutoff and bypass arrangement and a partial flow arrangement during which time an additive is delivered to the spray head. The spray head control system allows complete control of the system through common hydraulics rather than requiring auxiliary control systems.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Harlan T. Gjerde 826 49 1/2 Ave. N. E., Minneapolis, Minn. 5542! [2i] Appl. No. 887,235 [22] Filed Dec. 22, 1969 [45] Patented Dec. 21, 1971 [54] HIGH-PRESSURE SPRAY DEVICE 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 239/124, 239/571 [51 Int. Cl B05b 9/00 [50] Field of Search. 239/l 24-] 27, 569, 57 l; 222/424 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS I 3,006,407 10/1961 Shew 239/125 SHUT OFF BYPIS:

a Primary ExaminerLloyd L. King Auorney.lames R. Cwayna ABSTRACT: A high-pressure spray device utilizing a pump delivering through a conduit to a remote spray head which spray head is provided with control means including on and off and controlled spray selections. with valving means arranged in the conduit which are controlled by the selective valve controls at the spray head and which valving means in clude a complete shutoff and bypass arrangement and a partial flow arrangement during which time an, additive is delivered to the spray head. The spray head control system allows complete control of the system through common hydraulics rather than requiring auxiliary control systems.

HIGH-PRESSURE SPRAY DEVICE Various high-pressure spraying devices are, of course, well known in the art. The difficulty with most of these systems is that the spray head is often manually controlled and manually directed and in order to control the various flows which the user will require an auxiliary or additional control system is necessary. One example of such a system is, of course, a simple manual system which requires the user to return to a control station to manually actuate the various controls of the unit while another system is an electrical system which requires that an electrical conduit be provided at the spray head for use by the operator to control the various elements of the system. This latter system presents certain use difficulties to the operator as the presence of the electrical handle does not allow for complete flexibility of movement and further, that in using the spray head the user will often pull on the spray-containing conduit and when he does so, he may exert a breaking, pulling force on the electrical conductor.

Applicant has provided herein a unique combination of elements which permits the user of a spray head to control all of the applicant necessary for spraying and cleaning simply by controlling the pressure in the system by manipulating valves which are located at the spray head. The applicant provides a system wherein upon shutting off flow from the spray head the pump and valving arrangement included herein will completely bypass the spraying conduit while if the user selects a controlled spray valve, the combination of elements responsive to the pressure developed in this controlled situation selects a flow pattern through a chemical additive line, which is then directed to the spray head held by the operator. This particular system as developed by applicant permits complete control of the system through hydraulic sensing of pressures being controlled by the operator.

It is therefore an object of the applicants invention to provide a high-pressure spraying system wherein the operator is permitted to select a variety of processes simply by controlling the pressure developed in the spraying conduit.

It is a further object of applicants invention to provide a high-pressure system which permits the user thereof to select from a variety of flow conditions and more particularly, from a flow condition which permits an additive to be introduced to the spray.

It is a further object of applicant's invention to provide a combination of elements which permits controlled flow of fluids under pressure simply by controlling the outlet system thereof.

It is a further object of applicants invention to provide a high-pressure washing system wherein the user is permitted to select from a waterflow condition under pressure or a waterflow with chemical cleaning additive under pressure.

These and other objects of the invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing illustrating the arrangement of the various components in utilizing applicant's concept;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially through V FIG. 3 is a cross section taken substantially through V,; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken through V In accordance with the accompanying drawings, applicant's device provides a high-pressure spray system. A spray head 11 is provided with a pair of control valves respectively designates 12-13 which include an on/off valve 13 and a flow control valve 12 which flow control valve permits and provides for the addition of chemicals or other additives into the fluid being sprayed. It should be noted that applicant's system does not provide any other control devices and that these two control valves 12-13 provide a hydraulic control arrangement for the entire system. 1

In order to provide applicant's control system an inlet line 14 is provided which is directed into a pump 15 which pump in order to provide the spraying and cleaning action which applicant envisions as the logical use for his device is a high-pressure pump. Exiting from the pump is an outlet conduit 16 directed through a first main control and unloading valve 17 which first valve 17 has an outlet conduit 18 directed to the spray head and a bypass conduit 19 which bypasses the system in the form shown and returns to the inlet side 14 of the pump 15. A second chemical additive conduit 20 is provided intermediate the pump 15 and the first main control and unloading valve 17 which conduit 20 includes a pressure limiting valve 21 which has its outlet 22 directed to an injector 23 which injector outlet 24 is bypassed to the inlet side of the pump 15. The injector 23 is connected at its inlet side to a chemical additive reservoir 25 and the conduit 26 from the reservoir is controlled through a check valve 27 to prevent flow from the conduit 22 into the reservoir 25.

The spray head valves 12-13 include, in the form presently used by applicant, valves which embody the structure as illustrated in FIG. 4. As illustrated in FIG. 4, valve 12 is illustrated having a body 30 with a longitudinal passage 31 therethrough with what is known as a ball flow control 32 seated therein for control of the flow through the passage 31. Obviously, an external control means such as handle 33 must be provided to control the position of this ball 32. In the form shown, valve 12 includes a ball member 32 which has two individual and different size passages therethrough. The first such passage 34 in a full flow passage which does not restrict the flow of the medium through the valve in any manner, while the second passage 35 is of substantially reduced cross-sectional diameter to substantially reduce the flow of the medium therethrough. Obviously, when the valve is in the position shown, the flow through the valve is restricted and, therefore, there is a pressure buildup in the system therebehind. The function of this valve 12 is to control the chemical additive bypass arrangement and the functioning thereof will be discussed hereinafter.

Valve 13 in the form shown may be similar in construction to valve 12 with the exception that the ball portion 32 thereof is only provided with the full flow aperture therethrough and in its second position, no flow is permitted through the valve and therefore, this second position serves as a shutoff. Valve 12 basically controls the shutoff bypass circuitry of the device as will be discussed hereinafter.

Unloader valve V designated 17 in this description is illustrated in FIG. 3 and includes a body 40 providing an inlet 41 which the inlet conduit 16 will be connected with a first discharge designated 42 to connect with conduit 18 and the bypass or second discharge being designated 43 to connect to the shutoff bypass conduit 19. Extending from the inlet passage 41, are a pair of passages designated respectively 44-45 the first of which 44 is provided with a valving member 46 directly thereabove normally seated through spring loading member 47. Upon flow of fluid through the inlet 41, this valving member 46 is forced open and liquid flows through the outlet port 42 and through the discharge conduit 18. It should be noted that a secondary passage 48 is provided in position whereby fluid under inlet pressure may be diverted downwardly into a control chamber 49 defined in the housing.

The second of the aforementioned flow chambers 45 is directed to a bypass valve chamber 50 which is provided with aseat 51 having a bypass ball valve 52 mounted thereon and thereagainst which in normal operating position prevents flow therethrough. A piston and spring loaded rod arrangement generally designated 53 is provided within the control chamber 49 and the piston member 54 is arranged on the control shaft 55 which control shaft is spring loaded through an external spring member 56. The shaft 55 is in position and smaller than the seat 51 upon which the ball valve 52 is normally seated such that when the shaft 55 is urged upwardly to unseat the ball valve 52 flow may pass through this seat and thereafter from the valve through the outlet or shutoff bypass outlet 43. Upward movement of the plunger 54 is controlled by the fluid flowing into the control chamber 49 through passage 48. When this pressure reaches a predetermined point in chamber 49 below the piston 54 and the associated rod 55 is forced upwardly to push the bypass valve ball 52 completely off the valve seat. At this release of pressure, the outlet valve 46 closes against the seat 44 thereby trapping all of the fluid in the outlet conduit 18 while permitting flow from the pump to be bypassed through the bypass passage 45 valve seat 51 and the outlet 43. This arrangement allows the entire pump outlet to bypass the system and basically unloads all pressure from the pump. Obviously, with this trapping arrangement obtained by closing of the first valving member 46 fluid is maintained in the outlet conduit 18 and when this pressure is released by opening valve 13 there is an immediate flow of fluid through the system.

When opening valve 13 the pressure is reduced in the control chamber 49 and the external spring member 56 will pro vide closure of the ball 52 upon its seat 51 and the main control valve 46 will open. This particular type of valve is known as an unloader valve and serves to reduce the load placed upon the pump 5.

The function of valve 12 is to provide control for the chemical additive bypass line and to permit the inclusion of certain chemical cleaning additives to the medium being sprayed while still maintaining substantially high pressures for cleaning with the additive. By shifting valve 12 into its position as illustrated in FIG. 4 wherein a reduced orifice is provided, a throttling effect and resulting pressure buildup will occur in the conduit 18. This pressure is transmitted through valve 17 and conduit 16 to likewise be introduced to the conduit 20 feeding the valve 21 as illustrated in FIG. 2. The valve as illustrated in FIG. 2 is a commercially available unit which includes a lower receiving end 60 to which the conduit 20 is attached and provides a body 61 extending therefrom to a closure end 62 which closure end is provided with means for attaching the body 61 and particularly within cavity 62 a first floating valving member 64 is provided having a sealing ring 65 about the exterior surface thereof to seal against the interior wall 61a of the body 61. The inner wall of the chamber 63 also includes a valve seat 66 against which a sealing member 67 carried by the valving member 64 may seat. Also provided through the front surface 640 of the valving member 64 are apertures 68 which permit a certain limited flow therethrough into the area behind the valving member 64 which therefore permits flow through the body cavity 63 and into the outlet conduit 22. A biasing member such as spring 69 is provided to normally urge the sealing member 64 into sealing relation with the seat 66. The function of this valve is as follows:

When the pressure in the conduit 20 reaches a predetermined pressure which is sufficient to overcome the pressure of spring 69 the sealing member 64 slides from the sealing position against seat 66 thereby permitting flow of fluid from conduit 20 into the aforementioned limiting apertures 68 and through the outlet conduit 22. These limiting-flow passages 68 along with the greater area of the entire face 640 of the sliding member 64 as compared to the limited area of the seat 66 and seal 67 permit the sliding valving member 64 to remain in opened position even though there is a flow of fluid therethrough. In operation then, there must be a correlation between the valving member 12 and this valving device 21, such that whenever the valving member 12 is shifted into its restricted flow position the pressure created thereby in the system will be sufficient to hold the sliding valving member 64 in open flow position.

Exiting from the limiting valve 21 the flow passes through conduit 22 into an injector device 23. This injector device is basically a venturi which draws chemicals from the chemical reserve 25 through conduit 26 and through the check valve 27. The check valve 27 is simply to prevent rearward flow of fluid into the reserve tank 25. As the concept of venturis is well known in the art, it would seem that no further description of this device must be made. The chemical additive bypass line continues to the inlet side of the pump where it is then pumped along with the normally supplied medium through the unloaded valve 17 and out of the spray head 11. Obviously, with a constant displacement pump, a certain amount of fluid will continually be recycled through the chemical additive line and the concentration of additive passing from the spray head will thereby be constantly increased.

When a sufficient amount of cleaning additive has been utilized, shifting valve 12 to its full flow position will now drop the pressure in the line such that valve 21 will again, through the action of the biasing member 69 close. At this point, the raw inlet fluid will simply be pumped through the pump 15, the valve 17 and the spray head 11.

It should be obvious that there is a certain correlation of functions between the valves 17-21 and the limiting ball valve 12. Obviously, the units will operate in proper sequence if properly selected. The optimum situation is that when valve 12 is shifted to its limiting or throttling position, the increase in pressure in the system caused thereby will be sufficiently great to open the valve 21, but will not be sufficiently great to cause the unloader valve 17 to close and permit bypass.

It should also be obvious that upon closing of valve 13, the pressure buildup in the system will cause tripping of valve 21, but that the pressure rise will be so rapid that the opening of valve 17 to bypass position will occur very rapidly to thereby return valve 21 to closed position.

It should be also obvious that applicant has provided a device wherein one chemical additive bypass line is arranged and the pressures correlated thereby are determined by the control valve 12, but that additional chemical bypass additive lines could be incorporated simply by providing another control valve at the spray head which would control and provide pressure in the line at a different value than that necessary to open valve 21. In other words, if a slightly larger orifice than the restricted orifice 35 as provided in valve 12 were provided in an additional valve, then the raise in pressure upon closing such additional valve would not be as great as presently obtained and another valve similar to valve 21 could be provided to open under this particular pressure. It should be obvious then that a multitude of such valves could be arranged which would function in the same manner as that provided herein to thereby provide a wide variety of chemicals or other additives to be used at the spray head.

The basic concept of applicnats device is to provide a controllable system wherein no exterior controls are necessary to provide on/off and additive flow through a spray head, but rather that a hydraulic pressure buildup is utilized to provide all of these functions. This system then, provides a unique controllable arrangement for high-pressure spraying systems responsive to the pressure of the system without requiring additional equipment.

1 claim:

1. A high-pressure fluid spray system including the combination of:

a. a high-pressure fluid pumping element having an inlet and an outlet;

b. a first valving member arranged to receive high pressure fluid from said pumping element having pressure actuated control means therein to direct fluid to a first discharge in a first position and to a second discharge in a second position, said second position directing fluid to said inlet of said pumping element, said control means being responsive to pressure at said first discharge shifting to discharge to said second discharge upon shutoff of said first discharge;

. a spray head receiving fluid from said first discharge of said first valving member and having valving means thereon shiftable from a first full flow position to a second controlled partial flow position and a third closed position;

d. at least one second valving member arranged to receive fluid from said pumping element, being pressure responsive to allow flow therethrough when said spray head valving member is shifted to said second position;

e. a venturi-type injector receiving fluid under pressure from said second valving member and communicating with said inlet of said pumping element; and,

4. The structure set forth in claim 3 and said second valving member permitting limited flow therethrough while maintaining a predetermined pressure in said system.

5. The structure set forth in claim 1 and said control means in said first valving member arranged and constructed to maintain fluid under pressure in said first discharge when the same is shifted to said second discharge. 

1. A high-pressure fluid spray system including the combination of: a. a high-pressure fluid pumping element having an inlet and an outlet; b. a first valving member arranged to receive high pressure fluid from said pumping element having pressure actuated control means therein to direct fluid to a first discharge in a first position and to a second discharge in a second position, said second position directing fluid to said inlet of said pumping element, said control means being responsive to pressure at said first discharge shifting to discharge to said second discharge upon shutoff of said first discharge; c. a spray head receiving fluid from said first discharge of said first valving member and having valving means thereon shiftable from a first full flow position to a second controlled partial flow position and a third closed position; d. at least one second valving member arranged to receive fluid from said pumping element, being pressure responsive to allow flow therethrough when said spray head valving member is shifted to said second position; e. a venturi-type injector receiving fluid under pressure from said second valving member and communicating with said inlet of said pumping element; and, f. means for supplying fluid to be included in the system communicating with said injector.
 2. The structure set forth in claim 1 and the pressure required to allow flow through said second valving member being less than the pressure required to shift said first valving member from said first to second position.
 3. The structure set forth in claim 1 and said second valving member being arranged and constructed to permit limited flow therethrough.
 4. The structure set forth in claim 3 and said second valving member permitting limited flow therethrough while maintaining a predetermined pressure in said system.
 5. The structure set forth in claim 1 and said control means in said first valving member arranged and constructed to maintain fluid under pressure in said first discharge when the same is shifted to said second discharge. 